The evening world., 1887-11-18

over there 10 ma out now tney HnhnBoo
things. II is true. Puritan Boston, chilled by
The east winds which blew the Mayfower to
Massachusetts Bay, and Quaker Philadelphia,
in the sedate calm which William
Penn has left to his progeny, open their Mu-
seums of Art on Sunday. and New York, the
cosmopolitan, does not!
The WORLD has shown how the Sunday
works in Boston. The same sue
cess accompanies It in Philadelphia.
There are three art institutions in Phila-
delphia, the Pennsylvania Academy OF the
Fine Arts. tho Pennsylvania Museum and
School of Industrial Art and the Pompeiian
Views. They all open on Sunday.
The Academy of the Fine Arts on Cherry and
Broad streets, in the shadow of the imposing
pile of the public buildings, was built in the
Centennial year. Alphabetically 1t has
shared the fate of some others of the edifces
which have been dedicated to art in America
and is somewhat suggestive of a too ornate
freight station. But since this present build
ing was erected II has been opento the public
on Sundays. An admission fee was charged,
however. From April II, 1880. 1t has been
free.
There was no opposition to the Sunday
opening. The Academy Is o corporation and
the Board of Directors are gentlemen OF
means who are devoted to the interests OF
art.
That the Sunday opening has not had any
detrimental effect on donations to the
Academy is we'll shown by the generous gifts
which 1t has received since Y opened on
of Mr.. Joseph E. Temple, a wealthy Phila-
delpbian and one of the Board of Directors.
Mr.. Temple gave $51, 900, with provisions
for its increase in three years to a u OF
$50, 200. Half of the interest on ibis sum
of works OF American art for the museum.
The interest on the other half was condi-
tional on the museum opening W days free'
one of which free days should be Sunday.
endowment fund for the Academy. The re.
suit was O subscription of $112, 500, obtained
between Feb. 8, 1886, and Jan. 10, 1887. MIR.
Temple also contributed $50, 900 TO this fund.
The city gives nothing to the Academy except
exemption from taxation.
Evidently Philadelphia is not opposed to
letting her citizens enjoy art on Sunday
The Sunday attendance averages from
twelve hundred to fifteen hundred. On special
occasions. such as loan exhibitions, II runs up
to three or four thousand. On Monday, the
one other free day, the attendance does not
average 100.
Mr.. II. 9. whipple, Curator of the schools
brarian, looks after the Sunday opening. I'm
WORLD reporter, "a force of twelve police
men was detailed for the building on Sun
days. They were found 80 unnecessary that
now there is not one. There is a call near at
hand which would summon one il occasion
required. But during my term of Office, for
the whole time of the free Sunday opening,
I have had to call in a policeman only once.
The people are of the poorer classes on
on Sundays. No harm has been done to any
thing, and the visitors show an Intelligent
interest and enjoyment of the works in the
Academy,
Sundays is about 81. Something is obtained
from the sale Of catalogues, which are 10
cents apiece.
1.-THE work engages four attendants, one to
are not allowed to take into the gallery one
to stay in the gallery to keep order. one to
sell catalogues, and finally myself, see
that no improper person enters. Children
under fifteen years of age are not admitted"
Since the Sunday opening the Neill be-
quest of $4,000 has also been left to the
Academy.
The one dissenting vote from the general
harmonious acquiescence OF the public In
the propriety and benefit of the Sunday
opening came from Mr.. George Whitney,
who declined to contribute any of his pic.
lures to q loan collection because of the Sun.
day opening.
There is no stronger argument than a fact.
| Wneu inc Olu pullDbOpneT Wisucu w pioNe
that motion was. possible, he got up and
walked. Philadelphia and Boston have
shown that the Sunday opening of the Mu'
scum is a benefit which reaches o class OF the
community. whose pleasures are few and
whose refining influences, are not great, and
it has also shown that this class not only
avails itself of the privilege, but that nc
harm or disorder has followed from IT.. MOI
has this proceeding been detrimental to the
interests of Ithe institution. This has beer
done by an Academy Of Art which was en-
tirely dependent en- private resources for III
support, not being subsidized at all by Stat'
or city.
from the opening of Memorial Hall in Fair
mount Park IN Sundays. This institution Il
very analogous to the New York metropolitan
Museum OF Art. The Pennsylvania Museum
and School of Industrial Art is q tenant o
Memorial Hall. The Park Commission cal
displace II at q years notice, n the Museum
corporation can retire at a notice OF the sam
length.
The Museum has occupied the building
from six months after the Centennial to tn
present time. 1t has been open on Sundays
but since 1880 the Sunday opening has beef
free.
Philadelphia expends $3.50, 900 on Fair
mount Park annually. Ten thousand dollar
are appropriated to the maintenance and re
pairs Of Memorial Hall. Out of this appro
priation the salaries of the assistants are pal
in great part.
The force employed consists OF sixteel
men-a custodian, an assistant custodian,
foreman. an engineer, two night watchmer
two closet keepers and one carpenter, and til
rest are assistants. who clean the buildin
daily from 7.30 to $50 A. NJ, the hour c
opening, and on Mondays until noon. The
are also ON duty when the place is open.
The Board of Trustees consisted of thirty
two, and two or three of them resigned whe
the Sunday opening was declared. One
these resigning trustees was in favor Of clio
T. Al nA-l- l.AlA - 0-1 u
wanted vegetation to halt on that day or NJ
Is not known.
The only expenses involved are the assis
ants wages and the coal consumed. The
! alton for the Memorial Hall. The expense
exhibitions, Of getting and returning Il